Why do you always think the constellation is so accurate-Fowler effect

Barnum effect, also known as Fowler effect and astrology effect, is a psychological phenomenon proved by psychologist bertram Fowler in 1948.

People often think that a general description of personality reveals their own characteristics very accurately. When people describe a person with some common, vague and broad adjectives, people tend to accept these descriptions easily and think that they are talking about themselves.

As a well-known technician named Shoman barnum said when evaluating his performance, he is very popular because the program contains ingredients that everyone likes, so he makes "people get cheated every minute".

In 1950s, psychologist paul muller named Fowler after Phineas Taylor Barnum, a famous American circus artist. The experimental result was Barnum Effect.

In a Barnum effect test study, students used the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Questionnaire (MMPI), and then the researchers evaluated the report.

The researchers first write down the correct evaluation of students' personality, but give them two evaluations, one is correct and the other is wrong, that is, use some vague and general evaluations.

After that, the students were asked which evaluation report they thought was the best for them. More than half of the students (59%) chose the fake evaluation report instead of the real one.

Barnum effect explains why many people think fortune tellers are "accurate" after consulting them, because people who ask fortune tellers have the characteristics of being easy to be hinted, but in fact, fortune tellers say almost the same things to everyone, which are general generalizations and descriptions.

Fortune tellers in traditional astrology and astrology often use Barnum effect to defend themselves and lure more people to come to him for fortune telling. Generally speaking, people who ask fortune tellers for help are ill-fated and depressed. Repeated setbacks in life make them feel insecure, and their dependence on fate is easy to accept the hints of fortune tellers.

Fortune-tellers are good at using barnum's "generalization and general description of personality" to ponder each other's inner feelings and tell some ambiguous past judgments and future predictions. Words are general and abstract, which are common in life.

Because fortune tellers often regard fortune tellers as prophets and messengers of God, fortune tellers will feel "accurate" when they "break through the past and point to their own wishes". So Barnum effect is also called astrological effect.

In life, we will also encounter these examples, such as some tests in the circle of friends. Through some simple questions, we infer that you are someone in the movie, and there are a lot of general statements. At this time, you will feel that this is yourself, and you will forward it immediately. In fact, these are all applications of Fowler effect.

Knowing oneself, psychologically called self-perception, is a process in which individuals know themselves. In this process, people are more likely to be hinted by external information, which leads to the deviation of self-perception. There are several ways to avoid Barnum effect and know yourself objectively and truly:

Face yourself bravely.

Learn to look at your strengths and weaknesses correctly, don't hide your ears, don't deceive yourself, don't look at what you have as short as others, or look at what you have as long as others. Know yourself and face everything calmly. Don't feel that you have a "defect" and cover it up in some way. Such people will only deceive themselves.

Cultivate the ability to collect information and keen judgment.

Judgment is a kind of ability to make decisions on the basis of collecting information, and the supporting role of information in judgment can not be ignored. It is difficult to make an informed decision without collecting the corresponding amount of information. No one is born with wise and prudent judgment, so we need to take the initiative to cultivate this ability.

Use an artificial lens

Take people as a mirror and know yourself by comparing with people around you. Comparatively speaking, the choice of objects is very important. According to your actual situation, choose people with similar conditions to compare and find out your proper position in the group, so that you can know yourself relatively objectively.

Be good at summing up

Know yourself through major events, especially major successes and failures. The experience and lessons gained from major events can provide information about a person's character and ability, from which we can find our own strengths and weaknesses. The more you are at the peak of success and the trough of failure, the easier it is to expose your true character.

West ring psychology

As the saying goes, "Know yourself when you succeed, and know your friends when you fail." There is some truth in this statement, but in the final analysis, we all know ourselves.

Know yourself correctly and don't be disturbed by external information. Regardless of success or failure, we should adhere to the dialectical point of view, not only recognize our own shortcomings and deficiencies, but also not ignore our own strengths and advantages.